Hi everyone. U might be knowing me since my engineering and, I too don't no anyone of u before that (not in my schools or Inter) as I came from a different place where people differ in their language and behavior. Language here in the sense, the accent.
My first thought about Hyd is that it is a well developed place and climate here is awesome as the humidity levels are low. For that reason I din't feel summers are hot here. We got into a new house with new atmosphere and of course, with new faces around us. U can easily guess, I spent my first few days in my house without going out(I feel it variety because evry1 wants to explore the new place...but not me so early).
But my feelings were much strengthened about the place when a boy of my age came to my house and inquired whether we were the one's who came recently and asked about me. It so happened that we became good friends for just a conversation of about 1 hour. He is also on the same boat as I and both of us were free enjoying our holidays. He said that he'll be coming the next day to my flat for playing chess.
The next morning, I heard some people talking to each other in my apartment corridor. They might be at a far distance from my flat door as i couldn't hear them properly. Slowly I could hear the voices getting closer. I thought of my friend who said he'll be visiting my house today, I thought of opening the door and surprising him before he could knock on it. As I opened the door, I was shocked in surprise, to see a huge crowd with big "Thilak" on their foreheads and carrying a big can with a cloth covering its opening and a small hole in the cloth. As u can expect, they came for collecting "Vinayaka chaturdhi's chanda". They din't open their mouths and waiting for me to get money. I was in total confusion and U should have seen my face den. Unable to face the situation, I went in and called my father. Thanking God, I escaped from that place. I waited the whole day for my friend to come. Then I got to know my first lesson: The people here can't be trusted on what they speak.
The next day my friend came and gave me an excuse. Knowing that I cant do anything, gave a smile as if I excused him. He took me to the colony's ground(tri-road junction) where they used to play cricket. After a lot of 'handshakes', I felt that now, I'm part of the team......
The main incident starts now: We admitted our grandfather in hospital as he is not well. My mother is staying in the hospital and my father managing his business as well as allocating some time in the hospital. One evening I thought of visiting my grandfather. As I dont know where it is, I asked my father to take me there. He told me to come to his office(in Abids) and from there we can go. Though I dont know where it is either, i wanted to try going der alone from Dilsukhnagar i.e., the place I used to stay. My father understood my difficulty and gave me instructions about the route.
They r as follows:
1) "Dont show yourself that u r new to the place".
2) "Better to board a 8 seater auto(also called as "Running auto" in Vizag as they dont stop their engine). because it wud be difficult to cheat in those autos".
3) Ask the person beside you where to get down for a place "GPO" in Abids.
Now I'm in a feeling as if I know everything and went on to the road. First thing I noticed, I din't find any Running autos. All the autos were halted near an autostand. I dint go near them because i know that those halted auto wala's will cheat me. I thought cleverly and waited for a "Running auto". Luckily I found one running fast on the road(Note: that was not an 8 seater one. But it was a normal 4 seater auto which is running). Now, my brain worked faster than normal. I stopped the auto and boarded it. Yes! I have done the first part. Now the auto wala asked me where to go. I remembered my first instruction and replied him "Abids". He in turn questioned me where to go in Abids. Again I used my brain...ha ha ha...Wat an easy question?.."GPO" was my reply. Another question from him: 'In which route I should take you?'. Now, my baloon bursted. No reply from my side. Now his brain worked faster and understood that I was new to the city.
Now what? he showed me the whole city. Can anyone know how "Charminar, IMAX, secretariat, Assembly,Tank Bund, Begumpet airport" come in the route between Dilsukhnagar to Abids? Finally, he halted near L.B.Stadium. I dont know whether he brought me to the exact place. He pointed towards "Haj House" and said it was "GPO".'Yes', I made it...It should be a 15 min drive if he follows a direct route. But it was too late. It became 1 hr route and I'm happy to say that the meter reading is above Rs.100. My luck turned here. I have only 60 rupees in my wallet and i couldn't pay him totally(My father asked me to get change as these running auto wala's dont carry change with them). Now, How to pay him? I asked that auto person to wait there and I went to a public phone booth and called my father. the convesation went on like this:
Me: Dad, where r u? I'm waiting here.
Dad: 1 min, I'm starting now. I'll be there in 5 mins.
Me: Get some change. I have to pay him Rs. 100 odd.
Dad: why it happened to be that much?
Me: Dont ask questions and come here immediatly.
I ended the conversation and had beed waiting there.
(This was not from my side...It was what my father observed)
(He went near GPO in Abids and searched for me. How can he find me there as i'm waiting near L.B.Stadium? He re-dialed the public phone from where i called him and asked the shop person where that place is located. knowing the address that it was beside the stadium, he came there).
I din't understand wat's going on!! I went to my father and asked him to pay the extra amount. My father went near the auto wala and talked to him. Then he took him to a traffic police on-duty and explained the situation.
Finally it all came to me. That auto wala told police that it was me who asked him to show the city. What now? I have nothing to say as I was listening to the nice story that auto wala is describing and to my worst part, I'm the leading role in tht story.
My dad argued on behalf of me. Argued and argued... when we asked the police, he said that the meter should be Rs.30. and the argument continued....Finally it came to a conclusion that we have to pay the double amount to what it should be. O.K., now i cant face my dad. So, I went in the car and waiting for my dad to come. Luckily he is not angry upon me but laughing heavily. We continued our journey to the hospital.
But my thoughts dint leave me. I then decided it would be better to board a bus rather than auto. This is my second lesson in Hyd.
Definitely our lessons will teach us.....
And I dint mention this.. i came from Visakhapatnam where I dint face anything like this before. But now, I'm pretty watchful. thanx to hyd and tht auto wala....
please leave me a comment so tht i'll share much much interesting things in my life..
